It’s festival time

The second annual AuburnFest, a summertime festival, returns Saturday, Aug. 12 to Les Gove Park, 910 Ninth St. SE.

The family-oriented event begins with the Auburn Days Parade along Main Street at 11 a.m. The festival continues throughout the day and offers two entertainment stages, food, craft and specialty vendors, a beer garden, a literary showcase and small press fair, a car show and a Stuff The Bus event to collect school supplies for children.

Main Stage entertainment includes: CJQ ( Jazz Quartet); Buddy, Ritchie &The Bopper “A Tribute to the day the Music Died!” (’50s rock ’n roll); Medicine Hat (rock ’n roll); Heart By Heart (Heart band tribute); and Hair Storm (’80s arena rock). The Community Stage features: Just Plain Folk (folk); the South Sound Square Dancers; the Auburn Dance Academy; Tweenland; The Davidson Brothers; Giggle Works (magic and balloons); and the Take 7 Little Big Band.

For exact times of each performance, visit auburnwa.gov/auburnfest.

Free activities are bocce, face painting, four ArtRageous hands-on art activities, a Makers Space craft, an indoor and outdoor playground and a spray playground.

A $10 wristband is available ($5 if purchased in advance) to play on all the rides and activities.

Purchase wristbands before Aug. 11 and use coupon code FUN17 for a discounted price of $5 per wristband. Wristbands can be purchased at the Community and Event Center, 910 Ninth St. SE, or online.

AuburnFest is sponsored in part by MultiCare.

AUBURNFEST AT

A GLANCE

Friday, Aug. 11

• Almost 5K Poker Fun Run &Walk, 7 p.m., Les Gove Park

In conjunction with Auburn’s Summer Sounds &Cinema concert and outdoor movie event that same evening at Les Gove Park. The night consists of two musical performances on the main stage, Eric Ode at 6 and Rain City Time Machine at 7. The movie, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (PG-13), begins at dusk.

Register at auburnwa.gov/auburnfest.

Saturday

• Auburn Days Parade, 11 a.m., Main Street in downtown Auburn.

The parade features a variety of marching bands, drill teams, dancers, one-of-a-kind cars and other entries. The parade route travels west along Main Street from E Street NE to A Street NW.

• Commemorative car show, 11 a.m.-4 pm, Les Gove Park.

Antique, classic, hot rod, street rod, muscle and unique cars on display. Awards in 15 categories.

Pre-registration deadline is Aug. 10. Sorry, no registrations accepted Aug. 11. Register online.

• Literary Showcase, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Community and Event Center at the park

Workshops, guest poets, speakers and artists, open mic contest, book and small press fair, and more. Auburn Poet Laureate Marjorie Rommel, poet Patrick Dixon and story-teller Sharon Nyree Williams are featured. The public is invited.